Mooney's Bay resident launches efforts to help Japan.
Rebecca Cragg at a bamboo painting session at her home on Mooney’s Bay. Bamboo is considered a symbol of strength and vitality among Japanese.
Eddie Rwema
In an effort to encourage others to donate, a Mooney’s Bay
resident is giving her earnings from the month of March to help the Japan
earthquake relief effort.
Rebecca Cragg, who runs Camellia Teas of Ottawa out of her
home, launched a series of events that will run throughout the month of March
to help raise money for Japan.
Cragg, who spent seven year teaching English in Japan,
hosted a Suibokuga event where guests practiced the Japanese art of brush
painting bamboo trees.
“I thought if people come here learn a little bit of painting,
they would feel a different relationship with Japan, not just the focus on the
misery and the horrific images they see on news,” said Cragg.
When she thinks of the tsunami, she thinks of her painting
teacher’s home, Cragg said.
“It is heart breaking, shocking and unimaginable seeing
those footages on news.”
Those that attended the painting session on March 15 were
taught how to make a little painting of bamboo.
Cragg said bamboo is a symbol of strength and vitality.
“It is a symbol of very powerful life loss,” she said. “Each
leaf might be a person who has lost their lives.”
Having spent more than a decade working with Japanese people
both in Japan and here in Canada, Cragg believes the country will be able to
overcome what happened to them.
“They are an incredibly strong and noble people who have a
strong will to survive,” she said.
Cragg believes through approaching an aspect of the culture
that is beautiful, traditional and enriching, one can also balance the sadness
they feel with a sense of gratitude, appreciation and wonder for the beauties
of Japan and its traditional art.
During her seven years in Japan, Cragg trained intensively
in Japanese arts, Japanese brush painting, tea ceremony and kimono dressing.
The massive earthquake and tsunami two weeks ago devastated
a large part of eastern Japan, leaving at least 6,500 people dead and thousands
missing.
eddie.rwema@metroland.com
Ottawa This Week - Central